A sporting official in Germany has died after being struck in the throat by a javelin, police said.

The 74-year-old man was adjudicating at a youth athletics event in the western city of Düsseldorf when the incident happened late on Sunday, said police spokesman Andre Hartwig.

He was immediately taken to hospital but died of injuries early on Monday, Hartwig said. The local athletics association for Düsseldorf and Neuss identified the man as Dieter Strack.

"The popular and experienced sports judge was the victim of a tragic accident while carrying out his duties on 26 August," the association said on its website. "All of us who were there are horrified and in shock."

Hartwig said the 15-year-old athlete who threw the javelin was receiving psychological counselling.

Police have opened an investigation into the official's death but initial indications were that it had been an accident, he added.

The competition in the Rath district of Düsseldorf was called off after the incident.